Posted By Susan

 

SilkySwing

I finished this garment I'm calling Silky Swing.  It's a swing coat sort of design.  I used Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool.  It is a beautiful yarn.  A tiny cable pattern gives this a wonderful texture.  The pattern is "Swing Jacket with Leaf Border" from Classic Elite Yarns #830, sweaters knit for Devon Silk/Wool Tweed (a yarn that no longer exists, I'm told). 

The sweater still needs some sort of closure on the top.  I'm considering a Nikki Epstein-style I-cord frog closure, though I'm also thinking about a metal frog.  It's blocking now and has that mmmmm-raw-silk smell.   
Something else that smells like silk:

Shawl Yarn

This ball of wool-silk-cashmere.  It was saved from the landfill by a good friend who offered (unbidden) to clean it for me.  I cannot mention the CATastrophe (hint, hint) that befell this yarn.  I thought it was lost forever.  I was telling this friend about the reason for my tragic sadness, told her the whole sad story, and she told me she could get the smell out.  I didn't believe her, but she was keen to help.  I delivered the yarn double-bagged to her the next day.  
A triple-dip and dry at her house, and the yarn smells good as new.  It has that silk smell again, and not at all like cat . . .  

For the past few years this yarn has been waiting in my stash to be knit up into an Orenburg Lace shawl.  Recent events have convinced me that I must make the shawl.  No more excuses.  It will be a year of shawls for me.   

 
3 Comment(s):
Caro said...
You know, as i listened to your podcast about the smell of silk, I was transported to the day, over 25 years ago, when I was taken to look round a silk mill. I think it was Lullingston Silk Farm and Butterfly Centre near Sherbourne in Dorset http://www.wwb.co.uk/shop/index.php/cPath/3. I am not sure whether it's still open. I was about 4 months pregnant at the time with our first daughter. I think at times like this our nasal passages become much more sensative. The smel of the silk knocked me sick! But I really wanted to look round the museum and was so glad I made it, or I would have missed seeing all the beautiful wedding dresses! The silk for Princess Diana's dress came from there! Best wishes Caroline
March 1, 2010 09:49:16
 
Susan said...
I also love the color of that yarn. I have two skeins left over -- what to do? I just received my new Rowan magazine, and there is a very nice vest made from Rowan's SummerTweed, in about seven colors. The Rowan yarn is silk cotton, and heavier. I can't decide whether it's worth it to buy a bunch more SilkyWool in different colors in order to make the vest. Hmmmm.
January 14, 2009 07:35:00
 
Ceci said...
I love that silky wool sweater. What a great design. I think I used the same silky wool yarn in the same color for my Elsbeth lavold sweater, which I cannot remember the name of at the moment. It was getting stretched out of shape, I thought so I threw it in the washer yesterday and dryer. I planned to try it on today to see if it is better or if it's now too small. But I forgot this morning. Ceci Ceci
January 8, 2009 10:31:24
 
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Susan
susan@knitajourney.com
Duluth, Minnesota, USA

 
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